Loss of Glasgow steps “astonishing” says campaign

Campaigners fighting to save the steps in front of Glasgow’s concert hall have described a council decision to demolish them “astonishing”.

Glasgow City Council's Planning Applications Committee yesterday approved applications for the £390m expansion of the Buchanan Galleries shopping mall, which includes the demolition of the steps at the top of pedestrianized Buchanan street.

The steps are used regularly as a political platform, including rallies for both sides during the independence referendum campaign around the statue of the late First Minister of Scotland Donald Dewar.

A new meeting area will be created outside with extra seating and the statue will be moved a few yards down Buchanan Street, the Committee heard.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council said the move would “improve the city centre's public realm and infrastructure, and generate 1500 jobs.”

An online petition to save the landmark by the ‘Save the Steps’ campaign gathered more than 14,000 signatures.

The Committee’s decision was condemned by campaign coordinator Aileen McKay. “Eleven people have overruled the expressed views of over 14,000 people from Glasgow and beyond, which is absolutely astonishing. We’ve just lost the primary civic space in Scotland’s biggest city, which is a vital political platform,” she said.